What does the Bible say about the concept of purgatory? [Spirituality & Religion]

I’m very sensitive to those who believe that choices regarding salvation can be made after we die, however, this is where careful bible study comes in. We never want to “read in” what we’d [u]like[/u] scripture to say, but rather, carefully study what scripture accurately teaches. Of course, open, respectful discussion is welcome. If you think this post is inaccurate, please let me know, so we can discuss it.

First, it must be clearly noted that the Bible does not teach purgatory. Scripture is adamant about teaching us that one’s sins must be reconciled with God BEFORE we die.

In fact, nowhere in scripture does God say there are second chances. This is why we have Jesus as our only Mediator between God and man...to have our sins forgiven while on earth, before our soul departs this earth. If not, there would have been no need whatsoever for Jesus to die on the cross, to pay with His blood, our sin debt, so we could repent while on earth.

In scripture, believers are not called to offer prayers or works on behalf of the dead. The dead's eternity has already been decided by them, while on earth. That is why the Jesus said, “TODAY is the day of salvation, for you know not what tomorrow shall bring.” In other words, don’t wait until you die to make that decision. If you do, it will be too late. Further, He warns not to put that decision off, because you also don’t know when your time is up, and He doesn’t want you to miss Heaven. That is why we seek to grow in Christ and share Him with others, so they may know these things. God didn’t leave us to guess about life and death. The truth is there to be found in His Word, to be studied.

When a man dies, his soul is still alive, and he returns to God, where the Bible tells us he faces judgment for "what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Do [u]not[/u] confuse this with trying to earn your way to heaven. Jesus said that won’t work, lest everyone would boast that they saved themselves, which is an impossibility. You are saved by grace alone. It is a gift...you don’t earn gifts...you receive them.

The fact is, there is a way to escape hell and the sin that brings judgment upon us. God is fair....SIN is not, and brings condemnation upon our soul...but God is also love, and in His love He took our sins upon Himself at the cross. Christ paid the judgment in full, so that we don't have to face hell. Paul writes, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him." (Romans 5:8–9).

On an American troopship, the soldiers crowded around their chaplain, asking, "Do you believe in hell?" "I do not", replied the chaplain. "Well, then, will you please resign, for if there is no hell, we do not need you, and if there is a hell, we do not wish to be led astray."

If there is no hell, then there is no need for a cross or a Savior. But hell is very real, and as Christian author Os Guinness says, "For some, Hell is simply a truth realized too late." It is a sobering fact that those who choose to reject Jesus in this life, will have their request honored in the next by God, who will indeed acquiesce to their wishes, and send them to the choice they themselves have made.